Panaji
In Goa, to be part of the Margao Cricket Academy's Silver Jubilee celebrations, Syed Kirmani, the 1983 India World Cup Cricket hero relived nostalgia, wearing his pads again after 30 years on Friday at SAG grounds, Fatorda. Basil Sylvester Pinto
caught up with the legendary stumper in a free-wheeling interview during the MCA v Press exhibition match.
Excerpts
Q: What prompted you to take part in this exhibition match?
SK: To start with, Hemant Angle (who runs Margao Cricket Academy) and I, have played against each other in Ranji Trophy during our times. I knew after his retirement from his Ranji Trophy cricket, he was deeply involved, very passionate cricketer who started off an academy. So just about last month he called me up and said, Kiri bhai, 25 years of my academy and no one to support. So I came forward
and supported this academy free of cost and am very impressed to see it's celebrating the Silver Jubilee.
Q: Do you regret of not having played T20 cricket?
SK: No regrets at all in general. Very lucky to have played in an era where we played like gentlemen. I am not saying that today’s cricketers are not playing like gentlemen, but these days this quality is missing. That's why fines are being imposed.
Q: With T20 proliferating, can the purity of Test cricket remain intact?
SK: All three formats will go on. There is no way Test cricket can die. Because that is where the learning process begins.We won the World Cup playing 60 overs and then from 60 it went on to 50 and from 50 to 20. It is always good to have changes because this gives an opportunity to a cricketer to adjust and accommodate.
Q: You started off at a pretty young age, didn't you?
SK: I do not know where to begin and where to end. I was the vice-captain of the first-ever Indian schools team in 1967 to tour England.I was 16.That was the beginning of my international cricket career.From thereon, my consistency kept me going. It kept me in the limelight by the media.That is how I kept on climbing the ladder.In 1971 when I was the baby of the team, I was inducted into the Indian team under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar. My international tenure lasted from 1977 to 1986. From 1971-75, I was the understudy to Farokh Engineer.
Q: You won the best wicketkeeper award in the 1983 World Cup. Tell us
more about it...
SK: I got that award from Godfrey Evans during the 1983 World Cup. I was considered
the best keeper in the world from 1979-86 which the media does not want to write about and I wonder why?
Q:Could you reflect on the nostalgia of winning the 1983 World Cup…
SK: It was the most unbelievable,unimaginable,fun,unexpected experience because we were the fourth weakest team in the competition. Other teams had the maximum experience in one-dayers. On that basis, we left the shores of India thinking that if we could qualify for the knockouts stage it would be a great achievement.But the most important turning point for us was the very first match we played against the reigning champs West Indies who were gunning for a hat-trick. We beat them in the very first encounter and also in the finals.
Q: Which has been your most memorable innings?
SK: Quite a few. But according to me it was during the 1983 World Cup against Zimbabwe in the qualifying match. Unfortunately, the match was not televised by the BBC, the main televising media people. Zimbabe and India were the minnows of the tourney. We were 17 for 5 with the entire top order failing. When I went in, it was 124/8. Kapil (Dev) was the only whole and soul captain in deep thoughts having
done so very well and was wondering how we could win this match. Nevertheless, I could proudly say I inspired, motivated him in my own way. “You go for it, it is a do or die match. You got to hit each every delivery before I went to bat.” This was the dialogue between me and captain. I will take a single of the first ball, you play five balls and hit out on the five balls. Mar ke bolne ka (I said). Not to give up on this game. So in the end, it was 175 not out to Kapil Dev and yours sincerely was probably 28 or 33 runs.
Q: Which was your best dismissal effected?
SK: There are quite a few. But to memory, comes the World Cup finals of (Faoud) Bacchus (off BS Sandhu) which produced one of the best catches of the 1983 World Cup.
Q: Since retirement,how have you contributed back to the game?
SK: I have not announced my retirement officially (he jocularly states). I have done the courses of coaching - Level A, Level B and Level C. I have qualified theoretically as well having played Test matches. Then, I was a coach of the Karnataka State team and under my coaching there was Anil Kumble, Rahul
Dravid, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Dodda Ganesh. And then I spent my time sharing my experience with the younger generation and became the Chairman of the National Selection Committee when (Sourav) Ganguly was the Indian captain. Then I came back (to Karnataka cricket) and was given the mantle of Director of Karnataka Cricket Association until last year to promote and develop cricket and cricketers.
Q: How would you like to contribute to cricket in Goa?
A: If invited, I would look forward to take it to the next level. I would love to give back to the great game of cricket what this game has given me. I would like to be part of it if invited, as a mentor along with the coaches or others employed with the GCA and to see that they progress well and represent the country.
Q: Your advise to budding cricketers..
SK: I want young cricketers to be honest,sincere and consistent in whatever they want to do.
